NBA Legend Mitch Richmond Military Will Keep U.S. Olympians Safe ... I Would Know

3/23/2016 11:16 AM PDT

NBA Legend Mitch Richmond: Military Will Keep U.S. Olympians Safe ... I Would Know

EXCLUSIVE

Terrorists shouldn't even THINK about harming U.S. athletes at the Olympics -- 'cause the mighty U.S. military is locked, loaded and dedicated to keeping our people safe ... so says NBA legend Mitch Richmond.

FYI, Mitch played on the U.S. Olympic basketball team back in '96 -- when a terrorist set off bombs near the team hotel in Atlanta. In the clip, Richmond describes how he reacted when he heard the explosion.

But Richmond says the fact that the team had the best security in the world watching their backs really helped the players focus on the game -- and they went out and won gold.